N&DCX Round 8 - Bingham 08.11.08
MAIN RACE FOR SENIORS, VETERANS AND WOMEN
RIDING SKILLS AT A PREMIUM AT BINGHAM
Saturday saw Cyclo-Cross enthusiasts travelling to a first time venue at Bingham Leisure Centre in Notts. Organiser ex-professional Dave Gretton had set out a very demanding course on the grassland around the courts and pitches at the Centre.To provide level ground for the pitches etc. on the hillside, separate levels were created by a series of bankings which provided several short but very steep climbs. Each needing a burst of speed to get up them otherwise the bikes stalled and running was then required. Having climbed almost to the top level, trees were threaded through to reach a gradual climb beyond the final pitch. Then began the descents. None were easy. The first was a hairpin around a large tree followed by a climb up the banking again if the riders had managed to stay on their bikes. Having reached the banking's top, the course then lay up and down the length of the banking which meant the whole distance was "off camber" with left and right turns in quick succession before 2 more hairpin descents and finally a very steep straight descent into the circular finish area.
Rain had fallen prior to the racing. Mud was not a problem but the grass became as slippery as ice once the hundred or so riders began using it.
Apart from the climbing and off camber sections, the course was very fast but at this event, it wasn't the fastest riders who had the upper hand but those riders who could control their bikes well and those that had good technical skills on the many sharp corners but in particular on the off camber section where it was noticeable that most riders were sliding off onto their sides as their tyres lost grip. Some even paused and let air out of their tyres to get grip. The race leaders had let off the pressure in their tyres before they started.
Local riders known for their handling skills filled more than their fair share of the top places at the finish although it has to be said, all of them had mud on them were they hit the ground when they too came off or else another rider less skilled slid into them.
The course will go down as a triumph for the organising club - VC Notts.
Race winner was Yorkshire's International Scott Thwaites who was not only fast but technically skilled. Derby's Ben Eedy, current NDCXL Champion was equally at home as the winner but was 53 seconds slower. Matlock's Lee Shunburne was 4th, James Furniss 7th.
Chris Green was the first veteran in 10th narrowly beating major veteran rival John Shaw. Julian Gould was contesting for the top veteran's spot but unfortunately grass and sticks jammed his gears on his new bike and lost him time until he reached his spare machine but he was still in the prizes as third veteran in 16th place.
Another local winner and for the first time was Christine Howard in the section for the ladies.
OTHER LOCAL PLACINGS
29th Bruce Dalton - 5th junior
37th Peter Sharkey - 3rd Over 45 veteran
45th Dominic Wibberley
51st Paul Dalton
62nd Steve Robertson
84th Tim Kniveton
92nd Harry Gould
UNDER 14 YEARS YOUTH RACE
Frances Porter finished 5th.
UNDER 12 YEARS
Matlock CC had two winners!
Arthur Green continued his unbeaten run in this season's races holding off a strong challenge from the much improved Tom Weeds of Belper.
Sarah Lomas won her race and has an almost unbeaten record.
UNDER 10 YEARS
The race was won by Scott Hookway and Matlock's John Webster was fourth. Harry Morley was a little disappointed to finish 9th.
OTHER LOCAL PLACINGS
21st Thomas Webster
24th Abi Wibberley
28th Erin Wibberley
31st Elizabeth Webster